Automobile lock



Aug. 15, 1939. v. L. GILPaN I 2,169,795

AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed April 26, 1935 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE LOCK Maryland Application April 26, 1935, Serial No. 18,444

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locks, especially motor vehicle locks, and its objects are as follow:

First, to provide an automobile lock in which there is means under control of a key to secure the locking bolt both in the locking and unlocking positions, said means being broadly considered herein collectively as consisting of an eccentric or off-centered ring, a pair of detents, one of them being a switch-closer, and a relatively iiXed shoulder on which. the switch-closer can either ride or against which it can abut, all of which is p-resently explained.

Second, to provide an automobile lock in which the foregoing means locks the bolt in the lock-- ing position, then secures the bolt in the unlocking position in this way that said means prevents the projection of the bolt to the locking position until the key is turned to enable such projection, the locking lever having a latitude of movement while said bolt is secured in the unlocking position in which said lever can bs shifted back and forth across start, run and stop positions as may be required by oper-- ating conditions.

Third, to provide positive operation for the locking bolt, that is to say instead of depending on the spring to project the bolt to the locking position (which in fact it does) there is a separate cam-operated pin in control of the bolt, first by compressing the spring and so projecting the bolt to the locking position, second by pressing back on the bolt and making the spring follow the bolt to the unlocking position.

Fourth, to utilize the foregoing cam-operated pin as a switch opener and. closer, these functions agreeing with the locking and unlocking positions of the bolt for which said pin is responsible as previously pointed out.

Fifth, to use the means under control of the key, mentioned in the rst object, for the additional purpose of securing the cam-operated pin in its switch-opening and switch-closing positions (corresponding with the locking and unlocking positions ci fhe bolt), the two purposes of said means being directly related to what is herein called the hollow lever shaft, the ability to turn` the shaft one way or the other to produce the locking and unlocking positions of the bolt depending on whether or not the foregoing locking means is so set by the key as to permit or prevent said turning.

In, the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the lock, asseen (Cl. l0-252) from the drivers position, the parts being in the locked position.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the lock as seen from; the right or key end.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure: 2.

Figures fl, 5, 6, '7, 8, 9 and l() are cross sections taken on the lines 6 4, 5 5, 5 5, I l, 8 8, 9 9 and I -ll of Figure 3 illustrating the various parts in detail, bearing in mind that so far all views show the mechanism in the locked position.

Figure- 1l is an elevation of the inside of the insulating cover plate, particularly showing the contact strips.

Figure 12 is a partially sectional and elevational view of the hollow lever shaft.

Figure 13 is a detail plan View of a part of the same shaft.

Figure 14 is a cross section similar to Figure 5 but showing the parts in. the running position.

Figure l5 is a detail perspective View of the switch closer, this being one of the pair of detents previously mentioned.

Figure 16 is a detail perspective view of the other detent of the pair.

Figure 17 is a. detail elevation of the outside flange of the hollow lever shaft.

Figure 18 is a detail plan View of a portion of the housing showing the arcuate slot.

In carrying out the invention provision is made of a lock casing, generally designated I, which comprises a hub 2 to receive the customary tubing (not shown) of a steering post, said lock casing including means 3, 4 by which it is clamped to the tubing, there being a more or less customary bracket 5 to be secured to the instrument board (or elsewhere) on the vehicle. At one side.y of the hub 2 (either right or left) there is a bolt cylinder 6. This has an integral, segmental switch housing I. The inner edge of this housing has a continuous rabbet 8 (Fig. 3) which receives the correspondingly formed part of an insulating cover plate S. This plate carries a pair of binding posts Il), II (Fig. 3) near one end (Fig. 5), and a single binding post I2 near the other end.

These binding posts are the connectors for ignition and starter circuits. A wire I 3 leads from the binding post i0 to one side of the ignition circuit (not shown). A wire lll leads from the binding post I I to one side of the battery, or other source of current (not shown), the other side of the battery being connected with the other side of the ignition circuit. A Wire i5 leads from the binding post I2 to one side of the starter motor (not shown), the other side of said motor being connected with the second side of the source of current.

On the inside of the cover plate there are contacts I8, I1 (Fig. 11). These are fastened to the respective binding posts I0, II. The contact I1 has a high place I8 with an adjacent valley I8a, which high place, when pressed upon by the camoperated pin, closes the ignition circuit and one side of the starter circuit, maintaining said closure during the "start and run positions of the locking lever. The free end of the contact I6 has a tread place I9 which, when depressed by the switch-closer, closes the other side of the starter circuit keeping it closed only in the start position. At this point it is desired to explain that the arrangement of contacts I6, I1 is chiefly intended to show one style. The binding posts and contacts can be concerned with a variety of circuits, and it is not so material what the circuits are or how they are opened and closed, the principal thing being the controlling functions which the cam-operated pin and switch-closer exercise in the sequence that is presently set out.

On the inside of the bolt cylinder 6 the construction is as follows: A hole 2|] (Fig. 3) in the left end communicates with a bore 2 I. This bore merges into a counterbore 22, the point of mergence forming an annular abutment 23. The counterbore 22 is enlarged at 24 to form part of a spring chamber, the end Wall 25 of the enlargement having a hole 25 (Fig. 8) into which one end of the spring is set for an anchorage.

A groove 21 in the cylinder 6 communicates with the bore 2l and extends longitudinally of the bore (Fig. 3). This groove is both a securing groove for the securing detent and a guide groove for the cam-operated pin. Said groove registers (Fig. 4) with a slot 28 on the other side of the cylinder I5, at least in part. This slot is shouldered at 29, and it merges into a cylindrical enlargement 30 at which the shoulder disappears (Fig. 3).

Said slot 28 forms an opening between the bore 2! and the inside of the housing 1. A second slot 3I in the cylinder 6 also forms an opening between the bore 2I and the inside of the housing 1. This slot follows the circular contour of the cylinder 6 and is arcuate as the consequence (Fig. 5). The slot 28 extends longitudinally of the cylinder (Fig. 3). The two slots are at right angles to each other. One wall of the slot 3l has a shoulder 32 (Figs. 3 and 5). The shoulder is arcuate like the slot. It is approximately one half as long as the slot and a little more than half as deep. This construction provides a stop 33 at one end of the shoulder. The clear place beyond the stop 33 provides space in which the switch-closer has latitude or play to open and close a switch without disturbing the locking bolt from its unlocking position. The ends of the slot 3l are shaped to conform to the switch-closer which works back and forth therein. That end of the slot farthest from the shoulder 32 has a lateral radial passage 34'(Fig. 18) which makes room for the lugs of the pair of detents when these are inserted in the assemblage of the parts.

A pair of V-grooves 35, 35 is cut into the surface of the bore 2| (Figs. 5, 6 and 14). In this instance the V-groove 35 is spaced 50 from the groove 21, center to center, in the clockwise direction, and the V-groove 36, 20 from the V- groove 35. These grooves dog the securing detent in the stop and run positions of the lock. A pin-ended screw 31 (Fig. 8) is driven into the cylinder 6 so that its pin end aids in retaining the hollow lever shaft. A second pinended screw 38 (Fig. 9) is driven into the cylinder to forma spring stop. A plate 39 (Fig. 1) secured to the outside of the cylinder bears the legends Run, Start, Lock, Stop. These legends can be applied to the cylinder otherwise than by means of the plate, for example, the surface can either be embossed or impressed with the letters. Y The hollow lever shaft 4) (Fig. 12) is turnably contained by the cylinder 6. It is of two principal diameters, the small one providing a sleeve lll which ts the bore 2l (Fig. 3), the large one providing a hub 42 which fits the counterbo-re 22. The perpendicular annular face 43 (Fig. 13) between the sleeve 6I and hub 42 movably engages the abutment 23 so that when the shaft 4U is turned the face d3 rubs against the abutment 23. An annular groove 44 in the hub 82 (Fig. 12) contains the pin end of the screw 31 (Fig. 8), thereby assisting in retaining the shaft d8 as previously stated. An annular reduction 45 in the hub l2 matches the enlargement 24 in the counterbore 22 and completes the chamber for the spring d6.

This is a coil spring, and it is composed of several convolutions. Its ends are bent straight in the axial direction of the cylinder 6, one of the ends G1 (Fig. 8) being anchored in the hole 25, the other end 68 (Fig. 9) extending forwardly beyond the open right end of the cylinder 6 but resting against the stop 38. The shaft 48 has an outside ange 49 with an integral lever 58. It is by means of the lever that the shaft lill is turned.

On its inside perpendicular surface 5I (Fig. 17) the flange 89 has an arcuate groove 52 into which the spring end 48 (Fig. 9) projects, said end extending forwardly beyond the stop 38 into the groove (Fig. 10). When the lever 5I) is turned as far as possible in the counter-clockwise direction to register the lock position (Fig. 1) the left end of the arcuate groove 52 (Fig. 10) will engage the projecting end 48 of the spring. A radial hole 53 (Fig. 1'1) in the hub 42 is drilled so closely to the flange i9 that a channel 5E is formed in the surface 5I. Said surface 5I comes quite close to the open right end of the cylinder 6 when the parts are assembled (Fig. l), the channel 5d then making roo-m for the insertion of a stiff wire for the depression of a spring pin which occupies the hole 53.

A circular rabbet 55 (Fig. 3) contains the flange 55 of the plug cylinder 51. One cylindrical side of this cylinder is grooved at 58 (Fig. 3) for a short distance from the inner end of the cylinder to contain the end of a stud 59 which is set in the hub 42 (Figs. 8 and 12) and projects into the interior of the hub. This arrangement prevents turning of the plug cylinder 51 relatively to the hubl 42. Said cylinder is held in the hub by the spring pin 58 (Fig. l0) which extends from the cylinder 5l into the hole 53 (Fig. 17). This pin is pressed outwardly by a spring, and when the pin snaps into the hole 53 the cylinder 51 is held. Upon desiring to obstruct the plug cylinder 51 a stiff wire is inserted in the channel 54 and pushed against the pin 5l) to depress the pin and so enable pulling out the plug cylinder 51.

The previously mentioned interior of the hub 42 (Fig. 12) is now identified as the bore 5i. This bore ends in a wall 62. This wall has a central opening 63 which is concentric with the bore 6|. The opening 63 communicates with a T-slot 64 (Fig. 13) which comprises the cylindrical portion 65, the Wing passages 66 and the lug passage 61. The latter is made deep enough so as to cross the central opening 63 (Fig. 13). This lets the detent lugs ride across the opening 63, and this is necessary as is presently brought out. The T-slot 64 is in communication with the bore 68 of the sleeve 4| by means of a center hole 69 (Fig. 12). The purpose of this hole is to admit a stiii wire for pressing back the spring plug of the locking bolt during the assemblage of the lock parts.

There is a pair of cam slots 18 in the sleeve 45. Each consists of a relatively long spiral portion (Fig. 13), ending in a pocket 1|. The walls of each pocket are directed annularly of the sleeve 4| so that when the cam-operated pin occupies the pockets the shaft 40 can be turned in the zone of the start and run positions without disturbing the cam-operated pin which thereby holds the starter circuit closed.

A stud 12 (Fig. 12), also secured to the hub 42 and projecting into the bore 6|, provides a stop. A disc 13 (Fig. 7) turnably ts in the bore 6| but has enough of its perimeter cut away to provide heels 14, 15 to engage the stud 12 .in the lock and start positions of the lever shaft 49. The point of the stud 12 occupies part of the peripheral space provided by the cut away perimeter. The disc 13 has bearing against the wall 62 (Fig, 3). On the side opposite to the wall the disc has a transverse groove 16 (Fig. 7) across its center. On the side next to the wall it has a concentric boss 11. This boss turns in the central opening 63, the surface of which provides a bearing. The boss has an eccentric or off-centered ring 18. This ring projects into the T-slot 64.

The groove 16 contains the spline 19 of an adapter 89 which iits between the disc 13 and the plug cylinder 51 (Fig. 3). The adapter has a groove 8| in the side opposite to the spline 19, and this groove contains the spline 82 of the key plug 83. This key plug is revolubly carried by the plug cylinder 51. It has a passage 84 (Fig. 2) for the key 85 (Fig. 1). Because of the fact that the key plug can consist of any known kind of either the pin or leaf tumbler types the details of its internal construction are evaded in Figures 8, 9 and 10. It is considered sufficient to say that the key plug is not capable of being turned unless a properly constructed key 85 is rst inserted all the way.

A pair of detents 86, 81 (Figs. 15 and 16) occupies the T-slot 64 (Fig. 3). The detent 86 is the previously mentioned switch closer. The detent 81 is the securing detent. They have cylindrical mid ribs 88, 89 respectively. These mid ribs have lateral wings 99, 9| which are slidable in the Wing passages 66 (Fig. 13). The engagement of the wings with said passages prevents turning of the detents. The respective mid ribs have lugs 92, 93. These lugs are in confronting positions. They are situated at the near extremities of the detents. They work in the zone of the lug passage 61 (Fig. 13), and are permanently embraced by the eccentric ring 18 (Fig. 3). The turning of the eccentric by means of the key 85 shifts the detents up and down. The detent 86 has an insulating cap 94. The detent 81 has a bevelled point 95 (Fig. 16). The cap and point are remote from each other.

There is a cut-out 9B in one side of the mid rib 88 (Fig. 15). The bottom of the cut-out is flush with one side surface of the lateral wings 99 so that there is a common smooth surface straight across. The cut-out is occupied by the shoulder 32 (Figs. 4 and 5) when the lock is in the lock position. At this time the detent 81 is projected into the groove 21. It is held there by a stii spring 91 (Fig 3) the ends of which occupy deep central communicating bores in the detents 86, 81. The cam-operated pin 98 (Fig. 3) crosses the hollow shaft 49, its ends projecting through and beyond the cam slots 19 into the groove 21 and slotl 28. The largest part of the pin extendsv from the shoulder 29 to the bottom of the groove 28, and beyond the shoulder 28 the reduced end of the pin has an insulating cap 99 which is situated inside of the housing 1 in position to actuate the contact I1.

The locking bolt |99 (Fig. 3) is slidable in the bore 68 of the hollow shaft 49, its outer end being projectable through the hole 29 into a locking position. Near its inner end it has a pair of straight, matching slots |9| through which the pin 98 extends. A spring |92 presses a spring plug |93 against the side of the pin. This plug is actually the foundation for the spring, and the purpose of the spring is to enable yielding of the locking bolt in case the hole (not shown) in the steering post is not immediately found. The bolt can be moved toward the locking position, and by then turning the steering wheel a little to one side or the other the bolt will snap into the hole when registration occurs.

Reverting to the hollow shaft 49, the outside flange 49 carries a pointer |94 (Fig. 1) which is movable over the plate 39 to indicate the various legends.

The operation is readily understood. A majority of the views of the drawing show the lock in the lock position (Fig. 1). As long as the point of the securing detent 81 remains in the groove 21 (Fig. 5) it is not possible to turn the hollow shaft 49 by means of the lever 59, and unless this shaft is turned it is impossible for the cam slots 19 to draw the bolt |99 inwardly to the unlocking position. In order to unlock, insert the key 85 into the key plug 83 and turn clockwise 180. The key is then held in the plug by the key and tumbler formations. An initial reverse turn is not possible because the heel 14 (Fig. 7) is against the stud 12. In making the clockwise turn the heel 15 is brought over against the stud 12.

The 180 turn of the key correspondingly turns the disc 13 180 so that the eccentric ring 18 is transferred from the bottom position (Fig. 7), so to speak, to the top position. The detent 86 stays where it is because it is held by the shoulder 32. The securing detent 81 is moved inwardly out of the groove 21 because of the action of the eccentric ring against its lug 93. The spring 91 is thus placed under additional tension. The hollow shaft 49 is now free to be turned.

This turn is clockwise, .and the extent of the initial turn is In this initial turn the pointer |94 (Fig. l) will go from lock to start. Notice that the left end of the arcuate groove 52 (Fig. 10) in the flange 49 of the hollow shaft 49 is against the end 48 of the spring. The spring tension is counter-clockwise, so that the end 48 presses against the stop 38. 79 of the foregoing turn is consumed, so to speak, by the groove 52, and at the end of the '10 turn which matches the registration of the pointer |94 with run (Fig. 1) the right end of the groove 52 will have come into engagement with the spring end @8. 'Ihe spring is then put under tension during the remaining 20 turn. In other words, the right end of the groove 52 picks up the end d8 while the pointer moves from run to start. The iirst part of the turn of the hollow shaft l0 is free, the last part under spring tension. Therefore, when the operator releases the lever 50, having moved the pointer to start, the hollow shaft automatically turns back counter-clockwise until the pointer |04 indicates run, in which position the shaft is detained by the engagement of the point 95 (Fig. 14) of the detent 87 with the V-groove 36. The shaft is then no longer under spring tension, the spring end 4B (Fig. 10) being back .against the stop 38, and the right end of the groove 52 merely containing the spring end.

Go back to the beginning of the clockwise turning of the hollow shaft 4B. The cam slots i0 operate upon the pin 98 immediately so that it is shifted toward the right. In bearing against the right closed ends of the slots |0| in the bolt |00 said bolt is moved inwardly to the unlocking position. The cap 95 depresses the contact il and closes the ignition circuit and one side of the starter motor circuit. As soon as the detent (Fig. l5) gets beyond the shoulder 32 (Fig. 14) it immediately springs outwardly under the tension of the spring 91 (Fig. 3). The cap 9d then rides the inside oi the cover plate 9, and when it reaches the tread place I9 in the start position (which is the end of the turn of the hollow shaft 40), the remainder of the starter circuit will be closed. When the operator lets go of the lever 55 the spring 46 automatically turns the shaft 45 to the run position, as previously stated, keeping the ignition circuit closed but opening the starter circuit (Fig. 14)

Should the operator desire to stop the motor he will turn the lever 5l] back 20 in the counterclockwise direction until the pointer |05 registers with stop (Fig. l). The point 95 of the detent 8l will then rest in the V-groove 35 (Fig. 5). The pin 98 (Fig. 3) is displaced far enough to the left by the cam slots 7D to cause the insulating cap 99 to occupy the valley |85. This opens the ignition circuit. VBut as far as turning the lever 50 back all the way to the lock position is concerned it is not possible to do this until the key 85 is turned counter-clockwise It is only upon such turning of the key getting it back to its original position, that it is possible to withdraw the key. The pointer may then remain on stop, and the lever 55 can be turned either clockwise, or counter-clockwise with respect to st0p. But should it be turned counter-clockwise until the pointer registers with lock the lever will become immovable.

The reason for this is that until the key is turned the then extended detent 86 is obstructed by the stop 33 of the shoulder 32 (Fig. 5) so that the lever is limited at the stop position. Upon turning the key counter-clockwise 180 as just stated, the eccentric ring i8 is moved from the top position as it was previously called for convenience, to the bottom position (dotted lilies, Fig. '7). This moves the lug 92 inwardly, and the detent 56 with it until the cut-out 96 registers with the shoulder 32 again.

Now vthe way is clear :for the clockwise and counter-clockwise turning of the lever to each side of stop, .as well as the remaining full turn of the lever in the counter-clockwise direction to lock, and when the pointer |05 again indicates lock the detent 81 will snap into the groove 2l and secure the hollow shaft in the lock position..

From what has just been stated it is clear that the bolt ii is secured in the unlocked position as well as the locked position. When in the unlocked position it is prevented from being moved to the locked position by virtue of the shoulder 32 (Fig. 5) obstructing the detent 35. The detent cannot be depressed until the eccentric ring i8 is turned and the eccentric ring cannot be turned unlessI the key is turned. Therefore, the eccentric ring 18, the detent 86 and shoulder 32 collectively constitute means under control of the key 85 secur-ing the bolt iil in the unlocked position.

The operating zone of the pointer |04 (Fig. 1) in which the lever 55 has play is across the legends start, run and stop, The motor can be started, run and stopped as many times as desired without locking the steering post. It is for this purpose that the cam slots 'l0 terminate in the pockets li.. These provide for the play or latitude of movement without affecting the pin 98. While the pointer is within the foregoing zone the lever cannot be turned counterclockwise beyond stop without rst turning the key 85 counter-clockwise 180. Then the lever can be turned counter-clockwise until the pointer indicates lock and whereupon the parts will be secured in the locked position.

I claim:

l. A lock comprising a locking bolt and an electrical switch, said switch comprising at least s one contact and a movable switch-closer, a spring which tends to press said closer to a circuitclosing position, a shoulder which is Xed relatively to the switch-closer and with which said closer is engaged to hold the closer in a circuitopening position against 'the tension of the spring, there being a space beyond the shoulder providing a Zone of independent movement for the closer, and means by which to simultaneously move the boit to an unlocked position and to move the closer clear o1" the shoulder and into said zone, whereupon the released spring presses the closer into circuit-closing position on the contact, said closer than being movable in` said zone to ofi and on positions with respect to the contact and acting as a detent against the shoulder which then obstructs said means from returning the bolt to a locking position.

2. A lock comprising a locking bolt and an electrical switch, said switch comprising at least one contact and a movable switch-closer. a spring which tends to press said closer to a circuitclosing position, a shoulder which is fixed relatively to the switch-closer and with which said closer is engaged to hold the closer in a circuitopening position against the tension of the spring, there being a space beyond the shoulder providing a zone ci independent movement for the closer, meansI by which to simultaneously move the bolt to an unlocked position and to move the closer clear of the shoulder and into said zone, whereupon the released spring presses the closer into circuit-closing position on the contact, said closer then being movable in said Zone to off and on positions with respect to the contact and acting as a detent againstl the shoulder which then obstructs said means from returning the bolt to a locking position, and means which is worked by a key to act on the closer so that it opens the circuit, recompresses the spring and lines up for rca-engagement with the shoulder, whereupon the first means can be operated to return the bolt to the locking position.

3. A lock comprising a locking bolt, a lever shaft and means to move the bolt to locking and unlocking positions through the instrumentality of the shaft, and means under control of a key rst to secure the bolt in its locking position, second to secure the bolt in its unlocking position, said means requiring operation by the key each time before the lever shaft can be used to move the bolt from a given position.

VICTOR L. GILPIN. 

